The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-29
HIS OPPORTUNITY.
How It Was Enjoyed by Samuel
PulSifer.

Pulsifer.
"As1 Sarmwell, ask Sarmwell" said the
host of the Harbor House. whislking the
flies from his bald head as he sat tilted
against the wall upon his veranda. 'If it's
any thing that Sarmwell can't tell you, you
might as well give it up. l believe that fell
Ter would make King Solomon draw in his
horns, if it amt perfanin' Scripter to say
So M raised right here in these parts, so
fur as you can call it raisin'; he does the
most of it himself, though 'Lias Moody did
take him in m keep him off'n the town
when he was a little mite Of chap, m did
for him consid able when he had any thing
to do with-shif'less, 'Lias was-but, land
'twa'n't long that anybody was called upon
to do for Sarmwell. Took care of himself
ever sence he was as high as that gardi-
neern-the landlord pointed to a red tub
containing a wilted geranium, which con-
.stituted the houses claim to "highly orna-
mented grounds" as per advertisement.
E'Fit his way along smarter'n steel-trap,
loolfin' into every thing IN learnin' more'n
the school-master knew fit his way through
college, workin' every spare minute
school-keepin', clerkin' it, conductin m
drivin' horse-cars- actilly carryin' hod
one time. Studyin' law now. Lucky that
1 could get him to clerk it for me this sum-
mer, for there amt no other one man in
Ameriky that could answer all the ques-
tons folks asks; material history dissecters
come here, m Injin relickers, fshin' folks !;
quiet folks that wants the crickets muZZled,
IN hoppin' folks that wants band; there
amt but one thing common to 'em, m that's
aSkiD' questions. SarmWell he's match for
7em,
''Dear! dearl / must see this clerk ~
murmured Mrs. Arlington to her neice,
taking out her note book. 81 am sure he is
type. The natives have hitherto proved
so commonplace and unsatisfactory"
The niece, Miss Seraphine Collamore, col
Ored Sensitively; the clerk was coming out
of the office of the hotel with her uncle,
Mr.. Sidney Collamore, and must have be-
come aware that he was considered "a
type" There was suspicion of a flush on
his bronzed cheeks, but his gray eyes were
clear and steady, and his manner perfectly
self possessed. Miss Seraphinc Collamore
blushed still more vividly as she met his
glance-a circumstance which was very
annoying to herself Mrs. Arlington sur
veyed him, MOTEL book in hand, with as calm
a curiosity as if he were well-preserved
specimen of the dodo. He was somewhat
rustic in appearance, high-shouldered, long
limbed, and loose-jointed, but with regular
features and fine head, although some
what too large, which Mrs. Arlington
aftcrWard spoke of as ''leonine."
Found out by Sarmwell, didn't you? /
told you you couldn't catch Sarmwell nap
PIN, said the landlord, complacently. The
young man looked intensely annoyed The
young lady turned her head away with
sympathetic tact.
Mrs. Arlington smiled with bland con-
descension on the clerk. 81 should like to
take you with me on several excursions"
she said. 81 am sure you could assist me
in my researches. / should be willing to
pay
A vigorous nudge Of her brothers. elbow
stopped her.
'Dear dear how can one keep always in
mind the ridiculous sensitiveness of these
natives" she remarked, after they had
mounted the blackboard which was in wait
ing for them. But / am glad you stopped
me, Sidney for | think he may really be
useful to me.n
''He is remarkable young man." said
her brother, emphatically. give been
sounding him He knows more law than
many man who has practised twenty
years, and he knows that two and two make
four, which is unparalleled in man Of his
years"
81 knew that he was remarkable the mo-
ment l saw him; said so,n said Mrs. Arm
Ington, who liked to have the credit of
making discoveries. "And his head is so
fine one wishes he were bronze. Now |
think of it, Seraph, he would be a perfect
model for your head of St. Paul. Well,
perhaps not quite spiritual enough''-as
Seraph shook her head, smiling slightly
'but certainly quite as much so as that
Italian model who disappeared when you
had just begun it. You talked about the
sentiment in his face, but l could never see
it.n
"Giuseppi had a sweetheart who died.
said Seraph. II doubt whether this man
-n Aud then she stopped short, coloring
again. 1t was absurd to be specializing up
on the love affairs OF the hotel clerk, al
though one might do it in purely aesthetic
and iInpersonal way. She was ashamed to
remember that she had received q vague
impression, when his eyes met hers, that he
was possessed of sentiment. although per
haps in an undevelopcd form. And yet why
should one be ashamed He was not, she
was sure, q yulgarly "cuten and pushing
Yankee, as Aunt Fanny seemed to think
He had sometimes impressed her as being
as fine gentleman by nature as she had